Collapsible curtain hanger



y 8, 1952 s. RUSKIN COLLAPSIBLE CURTAIN HANGER Filed May 19, 1950 Sol Ru /w INVENTOR. BY MA E, awn v M flzzorweya Patented July 8, 1952 i asoasoe I jc"o:LLn Psfini;E oURrrA Hansen "'selnus in, Brooklyn; :Y. Application ay'1si.19so', se ia1 m. 162,846

7 2-Claims. (Cl.'160--335) The present invention relates to improvements in extensible supports or hangers jfo'r' curtains or draperies in conjunction with casement windows, hospitals, beauty parlors and the like.

Draperies sometimes are supported'by'rings on r fixed rods above the tops of casement windows and care must be taken to push them back well out of the way before the window is opened. In addition to supporting the curtains or draperies on fixed rods or rings, the curtains or draperies may be hung on rigid cranes which'can'be swung on vertical axes so as to permit free opening of the window, but such cranes are unsightly-when swung into the room; In hangers of both'kinds the movement of thedraperies is' effected by cord's'and'pulleys, with the result that thecurtain or "drapery is apt tob'e bunched at one side and is not uniformly distributed especially when it-isdesired to move the curtain or drapery to an intermediate position.

The use of hanging-means for curtainsand "draperies that are in the form'of lazy tongs also has been proposed. This arrangement has been *opento certain objections however, in thatsuch type of hanging means is lacking in rigidity, and

also has been open to the objection'that it-may become accidently swung on th vertical axis strengthenin-gthe hanger intermediate its length against tendencies to sag or buckle under the weight ofa' curtain'or-drapery carriedby-the hanger w'vhen the latter is expanded.

A still' further objectof the invention is-to provide improved retaining mounting means for the ends of the hanger which are adaptedto fit snugly against theframe or casement of a window or similar opening, for retaining in an effiwhilethe curtain is in'expanded' position, re-

sulting in "possible damage to the curtain or dislocation thereof.

e -The present invention has for one of its- -'objects the provision of certain improvements in a lazy-tongs type of hanger, whereby the hanger becomes locked in position automatically and responsively to its expansion'into curtain-hanging use, and released responthe position in its place of sively to collapse of the hanger for enabling collapsed hanger to be pivoted about a vertical axisiorsnugly engaging'a wall or casement of a windowxor the like, whenever it maybe desired for anyreason to displace the hanger from its operative,- expanded position, thereby enhancing the appearance of the hanger and enabling it to bewmoved into a completely unobstructed posirtionrelative to awall or -window.

. Astill further object ofthe invention is" the provision ofreiniorcing meansfor the hanger,

.which. means are mounted permanently on-the hanger and permit unobstructed expansion and contraction thereof, the said reinforcing means being positioned intermediate the ends of the hanger when: the said hanger is expanded, and

which is adjusted as to lengthso that it-willnot extend beyond the ends ofthe hangerwhen the latter. is collapsed,-- while at the same time 55 r a window, door, or similar 'openingwitli cient" manner the expanded hanger in operative or expandedfposition' relative tothe said opening, while permitting ready release of thehangerfor collapsing" and swinging movements thereof:

Further objects of the inventionwill become apparent as the-description proceeds, and'the features of novelty will be pointed out in particularity in the'appended claims. i r The'improved" construction of the present invention will'be'com more readily understood by reference'to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form or embodiment of theimproved constructiomandinwhich:

Fig. 1 represents a view of the hanger, installed inoperative position to extend across 'theto'p of a-*cu'r-- tain or drapery carried on the hanger. Fig.1'2 is an enlarged-side view of the improved "hanger ofthe present construction," partially expanded', showing certain'details" of construction thereof; parts of the constructionbeing broken Fig. 3 is a sectional v ew taken'on the line arrows.

Fig. iris a disassembled perspective view of the lockingmeans for securing the improved device in expanded, operative position; 4 3

Referring more particularly to the drawings' a window or similar opening A is provided with the improved curtain hanger; of the present invention, the opening A having the lateral-"vertical frame "members I and 2, and. the horizontal 'top member 2, which spans the vertical lateralinemhers I and 2-. "The hanger is indicated generally at Bin Fig. 1, and is indicated therein as being in expanded position ahdhaving a curtain" or drapery C' with its upper end folded "thereover, concealing it'flolh View; andbeing suspended therefrom. It will be understood that-in this description and appended claims, the term curtain and drapery'are used synonymously and interchangeably. I

r The improved hangercomprises toggIe-armsS and 4, which define-a lazy-tongsarrangement, the arms 3 and t 'bei-nginterconnected pivotally at their extremities as indicated at 5 and 6, and also at their center cross points as indicated at I. The pivotal connections include pivot pins 8 and spacer washers 9 interposed between the arms 3 and 4.

The terminals of the lazy-tongs assembly are mounted slidably on terminal posts I and I I by means of slidable connecting brackets I2 and I2 which are pivotally connected to the lower extremities'of the end lazy-tong arms, the top extremities of'the said terminal arms being fixedly secured to the terminal posts I0 and I I by brackets I3 and I4, respectively, and pins or bolts I6.

The terminal post I0 is mounted by the fastening 7 element I on the inner surface'of the frame member I by screws or the like I1, said fastening element I5 being a flat metallic plate or strip that is secured to the inner surface of the frame member I by said screws or equivalent fastening.

namely, the terminal post I 0 when the lazy-tongs with curtain C are normally in collapsed position as willbe directly more clearly explained.

The locking instrumentalities mentioned above include a plate mounted on the fastening strip or element I5 and secured by screws 20' and which is provided with a slot 2I having an open lower end 22, the rounded corners 23 of. which form guides for a projecting tongue 24 of the lower terminal bracket I2 which slidably embraces the terminal post II), the engagement of the tongue 24 inthe slot 2| preventing pivotal turning of the hanger assembly relative to said terminal post I0 while the hanger assembly is expanded, the extension of the lazy-tong arms caus-' ing the tongue 24 of the bracket I2 to rise .upwardly in the slot ZI. The top bracket I3 is secured between the top bearing socket I8 and collar 25 secured to terminal post In by a set screw 26, and which maintains the upper edge of the lazy-tongs and curtain in the same horizontal plane whether collapsed or expanded, and causes locking tongue 24 to assume operative and inoperative positions by the movement of the lazy-tongs structure. When the lazy-tong arms 3 and 4 are collapsed, the tongue 24 slips out from the open end of the slot 2l, thereby releasing the hanger assembly for turning on the post I0 so as to enable rotation of thehanger assembly from the window A, normally in collapsed position. It will be noted from Fig. 4 that the sliding bracket I2 is bifurcated, asindicated at 21, to receive the lower end 28 .of the terminal lazytong arm 3, a pin 29 passing through registering openings 30 in the bifurcated end 2'! of the bracket I2 and opening 3I in the end 28 of the arm 3, the said pin ZQ forming a pivotal connection between the bracket [2 and the arm 3 of the lazytongs assembly. a I

The lazy-tongs assembly is braced by a bar 32 that is mounted intermediate the lazy-tong arms 3 and 4, as shown in Fig. 2. This bar 32 is provided with oppositely extending, open ended slots 33 and 34, which receive the slidable pivot pins 8 connecting the arms, there being a central web 35 intermediate the slots 33 and 34 which receives another of the pivot pins 8 and is secured thereby in permanently mounted relation relative to the lazy-tongs assembly. The slots 33 and 34 with their oppositely disposed open ends, permit the lazy-tong arms to be expanded and contracted freely while the central web permanently secures the bar 32 in place relative to the arms 3 and 4. The engagement of the slidable pins with the slots 33 and 34 reinforce andrender rigid the hanger assembly when in extended position; and when the assembly is collapsed the bar 32 clears the end posts, the bar 32 being shorter than even the collapsed length of the hanger assembly.

'With further reference to the curtain C it will be noted that said curtain is provided along one edge with a piping I9, extending from a point corresponding to the lower edge of the lazy-tongs structure B when in collapsed position, and through which is adapted to concealingly extend post member II. Said post I I is adapted to support the hanger Band curtain C', notonlywhen fully expanded as shown in Fig. 1, but at any point within its expansive range, and, if desired, at any intermediate point within the rotative limits with respect to post I0 and frame element I.

Said curtain or drapery C has. its upper end folded or draped over the hanger B a distance sufiicient to house'and conceal said hanger, and secured by the separable snap fasteners 36 attached to the curtain proper and the folded portion 31 at points intermediate the arms 3 and 4, Fig. 1, so that said curtain will move with and remain'in proper position with respect to the hanger and in proper draping arrangement in both hanger expanded and-collapsed positions.

It will be further noted that the hanger structure B with its curtain Cmay be positioned at any desired point within its rotative-limits about its supporting post II], in addition to its right angular position with respect to anchor strip I5, when looking tongue 24 is moved out of register with slot 2 I, as will be well understood.

From the above it will be apparent that Ihave provided a curtain or drapery hanger device, including unique means automatically operable to hanger locking position by the expanding said hanger about the axis of its supporting medium to a position removed from or oif-set with respect to its'operative position, said device being simple in. construction and operation, manufacturable at a nominal cost, and eflicient for the purposes intended.

It is thought that the operation of the construction will be obvious from the foregoing description, and that further reference thereto is unnecessary; and while the accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the improved construction of this invention, it w1ll be apparent; that various structural details may be subject'to modification without departing from the inventive concept. Accordingly, it will be understood that it is intended and. desired to embrace within the scope of the present invention such gmodifications and changes as may be, necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses, as definedby the appended claims.

connecting the toggle arms at opposite extremities thereof, pivotal means interconnecting midportions of the arms, the said arms thereby defining a lazy-tongs assembly, terminal posts interconnected to the assembly at the opposite extremities of adjacent terminal arms of the said assembly, one of the terminal posts being a fixed short post restricted to upper portions of the window opening, means for mounting the said short terminal post and lazy-tongs assembly in said window opening, the terminal arms of the said assembly being pivotally connected to their adjacent terminal posts by upper and lower connecting brackets, means for restraining said upper brackets against longitudinal movement along their terminal posts, the lower pivotally mounted brackets being slidable longitudinally along said posts responsive to opening and closing movements between the said arms of the lazy-tongs assembly, and means for locking the said assembly against rotation around the fixed terminal post, the said locking means including a slotted plate mounted on said supporting medium adjacent to the said terminal post, and a complemental tongue member projecting from the slidable bracket into the slot in the said slotted plate, the said slot and tongue restraining the lazy-tong assembly when fully extended against rotary movement around the said fixedly mounted terminal post while permitting free expansion andcontraction between the said arms of the lazy-tongs assembly, and brace means mounted on the said assembly for stiffening :the said assembly against sagging under weight of a curtain on the said assembly, the other of the terminal posts being mounted in lateral piping on the curtain and extending to and supported by the floor, and being freely movable with the curtain into and out of engagement with the window opening around the fixedly mounted terminal post as a vertical axis of rotation, with thelazy-tongs assembly in selected extended and collapsed position.

2. A curtain hanger comprising, in combination, means for supporting a curtain at a window opening or the like, and including a plurality of toggle arms pivotally interconnected at both extremities and medially thereof to define a lazytongs assembly, mounting means laterally disposed on a window frame for mounting the said assembly in position relative to the window opening, terminal members pivotally secured to the lazy-tongs assembly coacting with the mounting means for holding the assembly in expanded position across the window while enabling rotary movement of the assembly relative to the window incident to contraction there-' of, and means cooperating with the mounting means and at least one of the terminal members for locking the lazy-tongs assembly against rotary movement responsive to expansion of the said assembly, the locking means including a locking member slidably mounted on the said terminal member and slidingly movable thereon responsive to opening and contracting movements of the said assembly, a locking tongue extending laterally from the locking member, and a locking plate fixedly mounted on the window frame and provided with a longitudinally extending slotadapted to receive the said looking tongue of the slidably mounted locking member in locking engagement with the sides of the slot responsive to opening movement of the said assembly and to release the locking member responsive to closing movement of the said arms of the lazy-tongs assembly, the said slot having an open lower end defining guide surfaces for guiding the locking tongue into the slot, opening movement of the said assembly causing a lifting of the slidable locking member until the locking tongue thereon enters the slot, the said slot having a closed upper end defining'a stop for the tongue for limiting opening movement of the said assembly and engagement of the locking tongue with the sides of the slot preventing pivotal rotation of the assembly when in open position, the locking member and its tongue moving downwardly 'responsively to closing movement of the said assembly until the said locking tongue clears the slot when the said assembly is substantially closed, thereby releasing the said assembly for. pivotal movement around the mounting means.

SOL RUSKIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

